Ice-weighing attachment for ice-boxes.



G. J. WOODHOUSE. ICE WEIGHING ATTACHMENT FOR IGE BOXES.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 1,1913.

Patented May 19, 1914.

2 sHEBTs-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASH1NGTON, D. c.

C. J. WOODHOUSB.

ICE WEIGHING ATTACHMENT FOR ICE BOXES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1,1913.

1,097,497, Patented May 19, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

coLuMmA PLANOGRAPH cu. WASHINGTON. D. c.

CHARLIE JOSEPH \VOODHOUSE, OF SOUTH MANCHESTER, CONNECTICUT.

ICE-VTEIGI-IING ATTACHMENT FOB ICE-BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 1, 1913. Serial No. 776,854.

To all whom. it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLIE J. V0013- HOUSE,a citizen of the United States, residing at South Manchester, in thecounty of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Ice-Weighing Attachments for Ice-Boxes, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to an ice weighing attachment or scale for iceboxes, the object of the invention being to provide a simple, reliableand efficient device of this character so that the amount of icecontained in the ice box may at all times be determined, and the weightof a piece of ice placed in the box readily calculated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a weighing device whichwill removably support the ice tank or receptacle allowing the latter tobe taken out and cleansed whenever required, which embodies a weighingmechanism composed of few parts not liable to easily get out of order,but which may be readily removed and replaced when required, and whichpermits of the ready drainage of the ice water from the tank orreceptacle.

The .invention consists of the novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described andclaimed, reference being had to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of an ice box equippedwith my in vention, Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse seotion thereof.Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is aperspective view of the parts of the weighing mechanism per 50. Fig. 5is a similar view of the platform.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates an ice compartment or chamber ofan ice box or refrigerator, adapted to receive an ice holding tank 2.This tank 2 is supported by a vertical movable frame 3 forming a part ofmy improved weighing mechanism. As shown, the said frame 3 is ofcruciform shape, having arms 4 radiating from a common center andterminating at their outer ends upwardly bent retaining flanges ormembers 5 adapted to engage the walls of the tank 2 and retain the samein position against shifting movement.

The frame 3 is mounted upon a platform.

or support 6, preferably comprising a free circulation of the airthroughout the compartment 1 and about the walls of the tank, for aproper cooling of the contained alr. The platform 6 is provided with aguide tube 7 extending vertically there through and suitably attached atits upper end to the platform through this tube extends a rod or stem 8depending from the center of the frame 4. A coiled spring 9 incloses thelower end of this red and is fastened at its lower end to the lower endof the rod and at its upper end to the lower end of the guide tube, saidspring serving as the resistance device opposing a determined resistanceto the downward movement of the frame 4: from a normal position underthe weight of the ice contained in the tank 2.

Pivotally connected with one of the portions 5 of the frame is a rod 10which conples the frame to the crank arm 11 of a rock shaft 12. Thisshaft is journaled in one of the walls of the compartment 1 and extendsto the exterior where it is provided with an indicating hand or pointer13 adapted to traverse an indicator scale 14 secured with the exteriorof the ice box or refrigerator body. It will thus be understood thatwhen the tank is empty, the spring will sustain the frame and tank atthe limit of their upward movement, and the pointer or hand 13 willoccupy its zero position. WVhen, however, a piece of ice is placed inthe tank, the latter will be displaced to a greater or less degreedependent upon the weight of the ice, thereby actuating the hand orpointer to indicate the weight on the exterior of the ice box orrefrigerator. By this means the user of the refrigerator may at alltimes ascertain the amount of the ice contained in the refrigerator, aswell as the exact weight of a piece of ice placed, at any time in theice tank, thus diminishing liability of householders overlooking theneed of ice, and also preventing the householder from being defraudedwhen purchasing a piece of ice.

Preferably, the indicator hand or pointer 13 is secured in position bymeans of a retaining nut 15 so that it may be adjust ed on the crankshaft to enable the weigh- Patented May 19, 1914:.

ing mechanism to be regulated when occasion requires. Stop pins 16 and17 are also preferably provided to limit the swinging motion of thecrank 11 and adapted to turn always in the right direction. A washer 18or its equivalent may be employed to hold the crank shaft fromlongitudinal movement. The tank is provided with a waste outlet tube 19which is telescopically movable in the upper end of the water dischargepipe 20 of the refrigerator,

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, the construction and mode of use of my improved ice weighingattachment for ice boxes and refrigerators will be readily understoodand it will be seen that a device of this character is provided which issimple of construction efiicient in operation, capable of being readilycleansed and adapted for use upon any ordinary ice box or re frigerator.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In an ice weighing attachment for re frigerators and the like, thecombination of a refrigerator having an ice chamber, a frame movablymounted in said chamber and having upstanding projections, an ice tankadapted to rest upon said frame and to be held by said projections, arod depending from the frame, a support having a guide tube throughwhich the rod extends, a balancing spring c nnecting the rod and tube, ascale, a crank for actuating a pointer coacting with the scale, and aconnecting link between the crank and one of said upstanding frameprojections.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLIE JOSEPH WOODHOUSE, ll itnesses WM. F. BARRETT, JAMES H.Wooonousn.

fiopiez of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing'the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G.

